Against All Odds

Epilogue

Something sucked at his body, a sort of cool wind that wanted to take him away, off to a place where stars replaced fur. It's pull was strong, but he felt something pulling him in the other direction, a familiar warmth he couldn't place. He stood, suspended between two forces, waiting for something to change.

Slowly, the wind ebbed and the warmth took over, encompassing his form. It felt fragile; a figment of his imagination or a shadow of a memory he no longer held. The feeling of softness joined the warmth, along with a quiet sobbing. Curious, Frog opened his eyes.

He became aware of the aching of his body first and, immediately after, the touch of a small, pink nose. Shifting, he brought his head to Swanpaw's to give her ear a swift lick.

Her head snapped up, eyes meeting his, and before the tom could stop her, threw herself onto him. She licked his ears and forehead, his nose and hise mouth, and Frog could not help but purr.

"I was so worried," Swanpaw said, pushing her nose into the fur of his chest. Frog rested his head on top of hers, heart beating an eratic rhythm.

"It's alright, I'm still here," he replied softly. They remained in that position until another cat entered the den.

"Frogheart!" Rainberry's joyous voice, muffled by the stack of herbs in his jaws, made Frog turn his head. Behind him, Eggpaw dropped his own stack and rushed towards the injured tom's nest.

"Frogheart?" the tabby repeated, confused.

"Goosestar gave you your warrior name while you were dying," Eggpaw explained. "She wanted you to pass on as a warrior." The newly named Frogheart looked down at Swanpaw, eyes glittering.

"I don't think passing on will be necessary."

She purred, shifting even closer to him. "Thank StarClan."

"I hate to break this up," Rainberry mewed, approaching the pair. "But Frogheart needs something to strengthen him. The Clan will want to know about your recovery." The tom's eyes sparkled as he dropped some horsetail and juniper berries before the tabby.

After obediently swallowing the herbs, Frogheart let Eggpaw retell the story of the battle, resting his head on top of Swanpaw's as he listened. The excited apprentice recounted, in exaggerated detail, how Frogheart slumped onto the ground after the loner plunged his claws into his back and how Sleetstar leaped in to save him, battling the loner to the death. The battle ended with only two loners standing, both running away when they saw what became of their leader.

Though glad they won the battle, Frogheart felt saddened by the news of Sleetstar's death. "It was my fault he died," he said out loud, the guilt pressing down on him.

Swanpaw's response surprised him. "Maybe it was an accident, or fate, or StarClan's wish." They looked at each other, an understanding coming between them, and Frogheart pressed his nose to her forehead, suddenly overcome with emotion.

"Get a cave, you two," Eggpaw said, wrinkling his nose. "That's my sister you're touching, Frogheart."

They ignored him, content to breathe in each other's scent, delighted to be together.

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"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the Speaking Rock!"

Goosestar's voice broke the silence of the medicine den a couple days later, when Frogheart felt well enough to leave. Swanpaw, who spent her nights with him, helped him get to his paws, supporting him as they padded towards the main cave.